by Melissa Tolson

Created on: April 28, 2008   Last Updated: April 29, 2008

Endometriosis is a disease of the female reproductive system that causes some sufferer's immense pain. It can also cause infertility, but the percentages of endometriosis related infertility remain debatable. The disease varies in intensity regarding both long-term effects and levels of pain. It is a somewhat mysterious disease, in that neither a definite cause nor cure has been found. Endometriosis occurs when the endometrial tissue (that which lines the uterus) grows outside of the uterus, usually on other reproductive organs.

Symptoms
Endometriosis affects the body and mind in many different ways. Women may suffer some or all of the symptoms, others do not have symptoms and only discover the endometriosis if have fertility issues. The most common physical symptoms are:
Pelvic pain which may include debilitating cramping
Pain in the bowel or bladder while menstruating
Pain during or after intercourse
Heavy or irregular menstrual periods
Lower back pain
Diarrhea, constipation and/or bloating during menstruation
A much lesser known symptom is hip joint pain (no major studies have been conducted yet)

While physicians try to be helpful to women dealing with endometriosis some forget the mental and emotional symptoms. These can include:
Depression (especially when associated with uncontrollable pain and/or fertility problems)
Frustration (due to lack of a true "cure" and limited understanding of the disease)
Fear, anger and sadness are also common
The chronic nature of endometriosis contributes to these emotions as sufferers know they will be living with this disease for a life time.

Diagnosing Endometriosis
A doctor can not diagnose endometriosis with certainty through an exam. MRI's, ultrasounds, pelvic exams and interviewing the patient can lead a physician to hypothesize endometriosis, but only a laparoscopy can confirm the presence of disease. In a laparoscopy, a thin, lighted tube is inserted through a small incision. Obvious endometrial growths or scar tissue may be evident immediately; in less obvious cases, tissue is biopsied.

Treatment
Once endometriosis has been confirmed, several treatment options exist. Pain medication can control symptoms for some women. Hormones, including birth control pills, progestin or GnRH agonists may be used to control the growth of endometriosis. However, the disease usually returns once the hormones are discontinued. Many times during a laparoscopy, the doctor is able to destroy visible signs of the disease. More severe cases may warrant

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